SHAG VALLEY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 268, 20 March 1873, Page 6

SHAG VALLEY.

(From ©?w oion Correspondent) March 6th. Seeing that your columns were fully occupied with the report of the races and the great Blue Spur case was the only reason that deterred me from sending my usual letter. I offer the above explanation so that your readers might not think I was getting indolert, or that I had no news to send. Id either case they would form an erroneous opinion, and be wide of the mark, because as to news. Why I could inform them how a certain public c6mpany here lately had a larg*

crushing, and how, because it was a very poor one, the result was kept a profound secret ; likewise how immediately afterwards a small parcel of quartz was forwarded to the Government battery, Dunedin; and how, because the result was a very good one, you had no difficulty whatever in ascertaining the exact weight of gold obtained, so that, putting this and that together, the natural question that arises in people's mind here is do any of the shareholders want to sell out ? I could also let you know how the miners employed by one of the companies are continually growling, because they cannot get their wages for weeks and weeks after it is due. So you see I should not have been short of news. N The Perseverance Co. are now busy j blocking out their ground. The stone I hear still looks well. They have come across a very hard bar of rock in the main tunnel, and work progresses slowly, and in consequence they have a number of hands employed. They are only working 12 hours a day now, not being able to raise sufficient stone to keep the battery going night and day. I hear that their manager, Mr. Watson, has left, and I think they will be a long time before they are better suited. Yesterday w&s quite a red letter day for Shag Valley — the occasion being the christening and starting of the splendid battery belonging to the Shag Valley Freehold Quartz Mining Co. There was a large number of the shareholders aud other gentlemen from Dunedin and elsewhere present at the ceremony. Mr. Pratt, Mayor of Waikouaiti, opened the proceedings in a very neat and appropriate speech, greatly praising the shareholders for their energy and perseverance, and also commending the magnificent machinery they were then assembled to formally start. That gentleman also proposed success to the shareholders of the S.V.F.Co., and trusted they would fully succeed and be amtly rewarded for their spirited enterprise in erecting such a plant, which, in his opinion, was second to none in Otago (a wish, I am sure, that was endorsed by every one present) ; and concluded by calling upon Mrs. George Bell, the manager's lady, to christen the machiney, which that lady did in a very graceful manner, by breaking a bottle of champagne upon the fly wheel, naming it the Shag Valley Freehold, the machinery at the same moment was started in motion, and commenced speeding on its mission of extracting the precious metal. It was the general re mark of every one present, that they were more than surprised at the smoothness and regularity with which every portion of the machinery moved, seeming as if it had apparently been working for months instead of only just starting. It most certainly reflects the highest credit on the contractors, Mr. W. Wilson of the Ofcago Foundry, and his foreman, Mr. D. Campbell, under whose superintendence the work was done. It must have been a proud day for Mr. Wilson, Mr. Campbell, and the workmen employed under him, whilst witnessing the very successful completion of their labors. Mr. Reeves, of Dunedin, one of the directors, for himself and on behalf of the other directors, expressed his entire satisfaction at the manner in which the work was done, and returned thanks to Mr. Wilson, Mr. Campbell, and their (the Co.'s) manager, Mr. G. Bell, and stating he was highly satisfied with those gentlemen's exertion, on behalf of the eonipany in connection with the work they were then viewing. The parties present were then invited to partake of tha good things provided. The Company do not take possession of the plant until Saturday, the contractor having to drive and keep it in order for four days after completion. I should be taking up too much of your space, were I to attempt to give you a description of the plant. But I fully agree with Mr. Pratt that it will be found to be second to none in Otago. I will just mention that it is a ten head battery, and is furnished with all the latest modern improvements for extracting and saving of gold ; it is furnished with self-feeding apparatus, and has winding gear, attached if ever required. It is 25 horse power. You can form some idea of its massiveness when I mention that the boiler is 25 feet long, 6 feet in diameter, and weighs nearly 7 tons ; the fly wheel being 16 feet in diameter, and weighs between 4 and 5 tons. Mr Bell informs me that be expects when in full work to crush from 90 to 100 tons per week, so that with only middling stone and economic working, this company ought very soon to be a paying one, which, I for one, have not the slightest doubt it will be. The Company have a large number of hands employed at present, and. are busily engaged raising stone from the main tunnel. I believe Mr. Bell also intends getting stone from the 90 acre block as soon a» ever they get a supply of water, which they are short of at present, no rain of any account having fallen for months-; indeed, it has been a remarkable dry season for this place. The Shamrock Co. are still raising stone, and intend shortly to have a crushing of some 60 to 80 tons. I hear that the stone is improving, both in quantity and quality. Cooper and party have also nearly completed the erection of their 5 head battery, and expect to start crushing in a day or twoj so that with the

starting of the new batteries, in connection with those already in operation, we can readily expect better days in store for Shag Valley. And as I have often expressed myself before, this place will yet make a name for itself, and will yet become a large mining district. The farmers have all got their harvest completed, and labor, in consequence, is more plentiful. Some of the farmers have also finished threshing. Tho crop generally has been very good — wheat especially. The general average is about 45 bushels to the acre. Oats only a middling crop — average 25 bushels. There have also been some very good patches of barley. The postal arrangements of this place requires a speedy alteration. I have numerous complaints about the irregularity of letters and newspapers. My copy of the T.T. I ought to get on Fridays — the day after publication, but it is a miracle if I do. The two last, Feb. 20th and 27th, I only got on Tuesday the 4th inst — both together. Last week I received the one for Jan. 23rd — just a month old, so that, therefore, I think a little change and alteration would be very acceptable to the inhabitants of this place. I intended sending you a few particulars of a grand harvest home ball lately given by Mr. J. Ross. Also an account of the late sly — rather open — grog case, &c. But having already encroached too much on your space, I must forbear, and keep them for next time.